Prevalence and management of psychosocial problems in primary care in Flanders

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the prevalence, presentation and handling of psychosocial problems in primary care in Flanders. Theory: Data on prevalence and handling psychosocial problems are widespread and sparse. Thereby, there is a shortcoming of a global picture of the question-at-hand and a need for a frame that can comprehend the data available in health care and welfare practice, databases and scientific research. The question is: what happens in primary care to intercept the psycho social problems that are presented? Methods: A mixed method was used. 1. Using a ‘fishbone diagram’ we obtained a basic structure to visualise the main (problem) areas and challenges.2. A literature study and 3.long interviews with health care and welfare professionals in primary care, were performed. 4. Finally two interdisciplinary focus groups were organised. Findings: In Flanders, there is no tradition of multidisciplinary research in primary care causing a lack of integrated data. Existing data only exist within disciplines without transdisciplinarity. The data are difficult to interpret due to different labelling and registration processes between disciplines and settings. Discussion: We strongly advise the stimulation and organisation of integrated (multidisciplinary) research regarding psychosocial problems in primary care.